Vince Tesoriero, the business partner of alleged fraudster Bill Papas, has launched a bid to have the civil case brought against him by Westpac thrown out because it is “very weak.”
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Mr Tesoriero is also seeking to stop liquidators from selling two luxury properties in Wagstaffe on the NSW Central Coast that are jointly owned via a trust by him and Mr Papas.
Westpac and two other lenders, Société Générale and Sumitomo, have filed Federal Court civil action alleging Mr Papas and his company Forum Finance orchestrated a $500 million fraud against the banks.
Westpac has accused Mr Tesoriero of being part of the conspiracy with Mr Papas to commit the fraud against the bank and knowingly assisting Mr Papas in conducting it.
It’s the end of an era for Shellharbour’s iconic fish and chip shop, Olympic Takeaway, as the Kollias family decide to hand over the keys after 36 years.
The shop was opened in 1986 by Theo and Helen Kollias and they’ve been running it ever since with the help of their two sons and daughter.
One of their sons, John Kollias, told the Illawarra Mercury they will miss their regular customers but it’s time for a welcome break.
Kollias family close Olympic Takeaway in Shellharbour after 36 years.
“It’s hard because this is all we know, but [it’s time for] a new chapter in life,” John told the newspaper.
Over the years, Olympic Takeaway has continued to cook chips and potato scallops fresh and kept the ice cream bar and milkshake makers, even as other takeaway stores have adopted newer culinary trends.
Now a new owner has been found to take on the business. They plan to keep the shop functioning as a takeaway store.
A man who claimed the prominent Polites family owed him $3 million in compensation for “fraud, perjury and false and misleading statements” has been declared a vexatious litigant by South Australia’s Supreme Court, The Advertiser reports.
Douglas Charles Russell is now prohibited from instituting proceedings in any SA court against Polites Investments, or any related company or person, without the Supreme Court’s approval.
This decision by Justice Sophie David marks the end of a 20-year court saga for the Polites family.
Polites Investments.
Mr Russell first took the former family patriarch, Con Polites, to court back in August 20, 2000, to stop his eviction from a business premises at 254 Hindley Street. These court proceedings were later retracted.
Since then, Mr Russell has launched numerous proceedings against the family, including an action in 2003 alleging he’d slipped on the stairs at the premises three times, injuring his back on each occasion.
Following yet another attempt by Mr Russell to bring an action against Polites in 2020, the company applied to have Mr Russell declared a vexatious litigant.
Polites family triumphs in $3 million, 20-year court battle.
During the court case, Justice David said the “parties’ litigious relationship” demonstrates that “Mr Russell has sought to agitate and re-agitate substantially the same issues in numerous forums before multiple judicial officers.’’
In response, Justice David has made orders restraining Mr Russell from instituting any further proceedings against Polites without the consent of the court, and also ordered he pay Polites’ costs.
Greece has lent Italy an ancient statue of the goddess Athena in return for Italy’s long-term loan to the Acropolis Museum of a fragment of the Parthenon Marbles,AP News reports.
The late 5th century BC statue will be displayed in Palermo’s Antonino Salinas Regional Archaeological Museum for four years. It will then be replaced by an 8th century BC Greek vase for another four years.
This move by Greece follows Italy’s decision in January to loan the Fagan fragment from the Parthenon frieze to the Acropolis Museum.
The Fagan fragment, which was part of a 160-metre-long frieze that ran around the outer walls of the Parthenon, was loaned to Greece for eight years but Italy has also been pushing for its permanent return.
Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, who travelled to Italy for the handover ceremony, said Greece’s gesture “reciprocates the generosity” of the Italian institution.
Greece hopes the loan will boost its campaign for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum.
“[The deal with Italy] indicates the path that London can follow,” Mendoni said on the day.
According to the latest statistics nearly one in five people living in Australia speak a language other than English at home, with Greek remaining in the top ten dominant ones despite a decrease in recent years.
From the 1820s when the first Greeks came to the country through to the mass migration periods that occurred between the 1950s and the 1970s, when Modern Greek programs were introduced at all levels in the Australian education system, students of different backgrounds continue to learn the language.
On the occasion of International Greek Language Day on February 9, Macquarie University Modern Greek students Safia, Jorden and Mamadu explain why they chose to learn a different language.
Safia: ‘So many words in English have Greek origins’
Born and bred in Maroubra to a Lebanese father and a Romanian mother, Safia, 26, decided to return to university last year to study Speech and Hearing Sciences after her career as a dental assistant reached a plateau.
“I looked at the languages available and Greek just made the most sense! My partner is Greek and Australian so I thought it would be really helpful as a way of connecting further with his family, especially his father who immigrated to Australia from Greece as a young man,” she says.
“Greece is also my favourite holiday destination and so I thought it would come in handy in the future when I return. This time I will be able to say a lot more than just ‘γεια σου!’”
For Safia, acquiring a new language requires time and dedication but it’s fascinating.
“So many words in English have Greek origins -I sound like the dad from My Big Fat Greek Wedding… but it’s true!
Safia with her partner
“It’s also exciting when I learn a Greek word that is semantically similar to a Romanian word, meaning they’re cognates -words that sound the same and mean the same thing but in different languages.”
Asked about her favourite Greek phrase the student says it’s “πάμε να φάμε” (let’s go eat).
“It’s random and sentimental but one of my closest friends that I met in high school is Greek and for as long as I’ve known her, we’ve stopped at her grandmother’s house so many times over the years to check in and see how she is going.
“Then we’d usually head out to grab some food. Whenever she [grandmother] would ask my friend where we were going, she would reply to her grandmother “πάμε να φάμε”. After years of hearing that phrase it became a part of my vocabulary and I’d ended up saying it too.”
Her advice to people who wish to learn Greek is “to immerse themselves in it as much as possible”.
“Learning any language as an adult can be difficult and it does require dedication and patience. But it is so rewarding once you start stringing together sentences and communicating!
“Greek is such a vibrant, rich and beautiful language which is representative of the history, culture and its people.”
Jorden: ‘Take every opportunity to speak Greek’
Jorden, 22, whose maternal and paternal grandparents hail from Greece and North Macedonia respectively, recently completed his undergraduate studies and says he chose to learn the language as a way to expand his intellectual capacity.
“I chose Greek specifically because I really enjoyed the company of my Greek family members, and because the Greek language, although not unchanged, is one of the oldest known languages, and many of the classics were written in Ancient Greek,” he says.
“What fascinates me are the connections and similarities between Greek and English, the points at which the languages intertwine.
Jorden with his family
“Detecting these similarities not only helped me to grasp the language more effectively, but also gave me a deeper understanding of where some English words come from. Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about aspects of Greek culture alongside the language.”
Asked about his favourite expression Jorden says it’s “Μάλλιασε η γλώσσα μου” meaning ‘my tongue became hairy’ because I have tried to tell you something many times.
“Metaphor is a common theme in Greek sayings and expressions, and that’s exactly why I love them!”
His advice to aspiring Greek learners is to “not allow the magnitude and difficulty of the task to deter you.”
“Once you grasp the basic elements of grammar, you can spend hours practising and absorbing vocabulary by reading and writing in your own time. Start off with very simple texts that you can understand, then progress to more difficult ones, and do not be afraid to use a dictionary!
“Speaking can be more difficult to practice, especially if you are like me and do not have native speakers around frequently. I overcame this obstacle in my second year by teaming up with a classmate of mine who was a native speaker, although not formally educated, and together we practised speaking a few times each week,” he says.
“Take every opportunity you can find to speak Greek, and you will find that you will improve very quickly.”
Mamadu: ‘More than a language’
Mamadu, was born in Sydney to parents from Sierra Leone. He undertook Greek studies as an elective to better understand her Greek group of friends.
“What’s interesting about the Greek language is that it massively differs from the English language, being the male and female vowels, pronunciation, structuring of sentences, and that a lot of other languages follow a similar structure so I thought it would be a great starting point,” he said.
Mamadu (first from R) with his Greek Studies Class
“One of my favourite quotes is ‘Έτσι είναι η ζωή’. This is a saying that roughly translates to “Life is Like that”. Meaning that some things in life are out of our control.”
Mamadu explains that learning Greek has given him an insight on how Hellenic culture has influenced the western civilisation.
“The culture is so rich and deep that you definitely get more out than you put in. When learning just the language, you can see how it has actually transgressed over to even the English language and even played a part in the Australian culture for instance.
“Greek is more than just a language. It comes with the rich cultural background and deepens your own knowledge making you more conscious of the people around you,” Mamadu says.
This International Greek Language Day, we take a look back at a speech given by former Prime Minister of Australia, Gough Whitlam, to the NSW Teachers of Modern Greek Association in 2005.
In the speech, titled ‘Philhellenes and Philologists,’ Whitlam sought to address two issues: (1) how important is the Greek language in Australia? and (2) how important is Greek civilisation to Australia?
To do this, Whitlam began to discuss his upbringing in Australia and how he developed an interest in ancient Greece and Greeks when he was a young boy.
Gough Whitlam.
“I was able to learn ancient Greek on Saturday mornings in 1933 and 1934 at the home of Leslie Holdsworth Allen… I shall be indebted to him for the rest of my life,” Whitlam, who has now passed away, said.
The former PM then touched on how “all Australians are involved with Greek words,” as many words in the English vocabulary have Greek roots.
Later, he turned to his political career and discussed how he always endeavoured to work with Greece and the local Greek community in Australia.
Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister of Australia.
“As the MP for Werriwa from 1952 to 1978 I had the opportunity and duty of serving the greatest variety of immigrants in Australia, including Greek Orthodox and Greek-speaking families from Greece and Cyprus,” Whitlam said.
From there, Whitlam also wasn’t afraid to touch on the Cypriot independence issue, as well as the return of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece from the British Museum.
In the end, he concluded that: “There can be no doubt that the Greek language is important in Australia and that Greek civilisation is important to Australia.”
James Tsitas was so determined to win the final spot on the Gold Coast Sun’s AFL list that he almost missed his flight back to Victoria for his own wedding.
Tsitas has shared how he lost track of time during a training session in January and would’ve missed his plane if he wasn’t pulled off the field by the Suns’ Head of Personal Excellence, Brad Reid.
James Tsitas. Picture: Glenn Campbell.
“I hadn’t seen my wife – well, at the time I wasn’t married – but I was flying to go get married and I hadn’t seen her in a month, so if I missed the flight and wedding, I don’t think she would have been happy,” Tsitas told reporter, Michael Whiting.
“We got married and I got straight back on the flight Sunday to train on Monday.”
We've officially filled our final AFL list spot. Welcome to the club, James Tsitas. https://t.co/bXapf6JfJL
The 26-year-old said his wife was “very accommodating” of his plans and after receiving the news he had made the final spot on the Suns’ team, they celebrated with a 36-hour honeymoon to the Sunshine Coast.
“She knew it was short-term sacrifice. It was a massive opportunity. I might not have got this opportunity every again,” Tsitas said.
Tsitas edged Nathan Freeman out for the rookie spot via the Supplemental Selection Period (SSP) rules.
Greek poet, Dionysios Solomos, is well known for writing the national anthem of Greece. But what else do we know about him? We share our top five facts.
1. His birth and early life:
Dionysios was born on April 8, 1798 the island of Zakynthos as the illegitimate son of Nicolaos Solomos, a wealthy noble. As a child, Dionysios studied under the supervision of several Greek scholars in Zakynthos before moving to Italy to study literature.
Dionysios as a young boy. Photo: Wikipedia.
There, he met many eminent scholars who acquainted him with the works of Ancient Greek writers and philosophers namely Plato, Homer and Thucydides. It was the beginning of his glorious career.
2. Writing poems in Italian:
Dionysios initially started writing poetry in Italian. He was also acquainted with very important Italian scholars who encouraged him to immerse himself in the French Enlightenment movement.
Later, when he met Spyridon Trikoupis, who was a historian of the Greek War of Independence, Dionysios was persuaded to start writing his poems in Greek.
3. The Hymn to Liberty:
The Hymn to Liberty was written by Dionysios in May 1823, at a time of great upheaval for the Greek Revolution.
His poem consists of 158 quatrains. It is written in the Heptanese Style of poetry that originated from the Heptanese School of Literature, or literally the Literature School of the Seven Islands.x
Between 1828 and 1830, the Hymn to Liberty was set to music by the famous composer Nikolaos Mantzaros and was heard with enthusiasm at national holidays in the Ionian Islands.
Many years later, in 1865, King George I heard a version of Mantzaros’ composition by the Corfu Philharmonic Society and it made an impression on him.
This was followed by the Royal Decree of August 4, 1865, which characterised the poem as an “official national anthem” and was to be performed “by all the naval units of the Royal Navy.”
4. Difficult family life:
Between 1833 to 1838, a series of trials upset Dionysios’ life.
Dionysios.
His half-brother (on his mother’s side) claimed that he was also the son of Count Solomos, asking for a portion of the inheritance. Although the result of the trial was in favour of Dionysios, his relationship with his mother was disrupted, mainly due to her attitude.
Nevertheless, the poems he wrote after 1833 are considered to be the most complete and mature of his works. His best poems are The Cretan (1833) and The Free Besieged (1845).
5. Death and Legacy:
On February 3, 1849, Dionysios was awarded the Golden Cross of the Saviour because “with his poetry he aroused the feelings of the people in the struggle for national independence.”
Dionysios died on February 9, 1857 in Corfu, from encephalopathy at the age of 59. His bones were transferred to Zakynthos in 1865 and were initially placed in a small mausoleum in the tomb of Kalvos.
Small business owners and sole traders can now apply for a NSW Government rebate of up to $1,000 to make their workplaces safer with $1 million added to the Small Business Rebate Program.
Minister for Fair Trading, Eleni Petinos, said the rebate has been doubled and the program expanded with a renewed focus on helping businesses ensure they are COVID safe.
“We have doubled the rebate support from $500 to $1,000 per application to encourage small business owners and sole traders to think about how they can make their workplaces safer,” Ms Petinos said.
“Small businesses have experienced challenges through the Omicron wave of the pandemic and this initiative is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to support small businesses in bouncing back.”
Projects that may be eligible for the rebate include:
Workplace hygiene products including portable and fixed hand sanitiser stations and sneeze/cough guards.
Access ramps to move products safely.
Guard rails to reduce falls for those working at heights.
Items that reduce risks of injury from lifting and moving heavy equipment.
Forklift safety measures such as specialised seatbelts, anti-vibration seats, automatic stop/go barriers and reversing light systems.
Machinery protection measures such as pressure mats with auto cut-off sensors.
Protections including ramps to load goods onto vehicles, conveyor systems and specialised stacking and racking systems.
Specialised hearing protectors for noisy workplaces to prevent industrial deafness.
Sunshade protection to help safeguard outdoor workers from sunburn and skin cancer.
Ms Petinos said the Small Business Rebate Program has been in operation since 2012 with the rebate providing safety information and incentives for small businesses to improve and invest in safety outcomes.
“The program also has a strong focus on education and supports small businesses across all industries by helping to start conversations about improving safety outcomes in the workplace,” Ms Petinos said.
“I encourage small business owners and sole traders to apply for the rebate if they are eligible.”
His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia has issued a special message to mark International Greek Language Day today.
In his message, Archbishop Makarios stresses the importance of the Greek language for Hellenism and as a “suitable vehicle for the spread of Christian teachings.”
Full Message in English:
For every person on earth, the language they speak is the root of their culture and the backbone of their historical path.
As Greeks, we rightly boast that the tree of our nation is tall and majestic, with dense and beautiful foliage and rich fruits. This is undoubtedly connected with the greatness of the Greek language, which, spoken continuously for more than four thousand years, has been a life-giving force of Hellenism and at the same time, a suitable vehicle for the spread of Christian teaching in the universe. Admittedly, the Greek language was the shoot that “grafted” the European and world culture, while it is worth mentioning the strong imprint it has also left in the field of science, as we can all see during the current pandemic and the extensive use of terms of Greek origin to describe it.
Properly and wisely, then, International Greek Language Day was established and we are celebrating it today for the fifth consecutive year. It was also rightly and wisely chosen to coincide with the Day of Remembrance of our national poet, Dionysios Solomos, so that every time we can remember the famous phrase from his work “Dialogue”: “Do I have anything else in mind to give me freedom and language?”
Archbishop Makarios marks International Greek Language Day.
At a time when we enjoy freedom as a self-evident good and are blessed to live in conditions that do not compare to the conditions under which the pages of “Dialogue” were written, our responsibility to preserve and promote the Greek language is undoubtedly maximised.
I want to assure you that everyone in the Holy Archdiocese of Australia is aware of this heavy responsibility. A responsibility with a double direction, both to our beloved homeland and our glorious ancestors, as well as to our proud Greek community in Australia – i.e. the older generations of Greek immigrants and especially the Australian-born Greek children.
In a sacrificial spirit, all those who serve in our dynamic educational institutions and in the catechism schools of our local parishes work daily for the care of the majestic tree of our nation, so that its root and trunk remain strong and prosperous, so the branches continue to spread far in the Antipodes and so its precious fruits can be offered in abundance to Australian society and to all of humanity.
Those who have devoted themselves to this blessed work are to be commended, as well as those who take care to keep the language of our ancestors alive even within their family homes. I take this opportunity today to express to them the deep gratitude of our local Church and, I am sure, the gratitude of our compatriots everywhere!
